STRELNA, November 22. /ITAR-TASS/. The relations between Russia and Turkey have been developing successfully, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday.

The Russian leader welcomed Turkey’s prime minister in St. Petersburg, where the Council of cooperation between the two countries will take place later on Friday.

“Meanwhile, the relations between Russia and Turkey have been developing successfully even without our direct involvement,” Putin said, expressing hope the current meeting would only favour the process.

Erdogan, in his turn, said he was paying great attention to the negotiations, where he planned to touch upon current issues of the bilateral relations.